Cycling: Bauer suffers concussion in nasty crash

New Zealand cyclist Jack Bauer is recovering from concussion after being knocked unconscious in a race in Belgium.

Bauer, a rider for the Garmin Sharp team, was taken to hospital after the crash which happened 60km from the finish of the Dwars door Vlaanderen race. He was later released and said to be in good spirits.

The 27-year-old lay motionless still clipped to his pedals after the crash.

"We were pretty scared in the car when we saw he was injured,'' Garmin Sharp directeur sportif Geert Van Bondt told Cyclingnews.

"There was a lot of dirt on the road,'' he added. "I know the corner because I live there and I know how dangerous it is. With the dirt you can do nothing. I guess he slipped or somebody crashed before him. We also had no information we just saw him lying there. I think it was a pretty nasty crash. You also have the descent so you go 50 or 60km/h.''

Team doctor Kevin Sprouse said of Bauer: "He has been examined by the team medical staff and has been determined to have sustained a concussion as a consequence of his head injury and loss of consciousness. He is doing well, is in good spirits, and is being monitored by the team staff.''

Bauer, a former New Zealand road champion, represented his country in the road race and time trial at last year's Olympics in London.